PSG were not always the force they are today. It was not long ago that they spent a meagre 1.1 million to sign Siaka Tiene from Valenciennes. Those times have gone. Over the past 5 years, their transfer policy has undergone a radical makeover. They have made a seamless transition from perennial underachievers to one of the richest, most successful clubs in Europe after being taken over by Qatar Sports Investment. From the bad times to the good, the past to the present, here are PSG’s top 5 signings of all time:
Remember, the players are ranked not only based on their impact on the pitch but also their value for money.
#5 George Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah, popularly known as George Weah signed for Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco in 1992. He went on to have a highly successful time at the French club.
The Liberian was an integral part of the side that won the 1993/94 Ligue 1 title. Weah scored 32 goals in 96 games for PSG over a three year period. An extremely powerful and physically strong player, Weah was the complete package – combining great work rate with athleticism, creativity and skill, Weah was not only a lethal finisher but often created goal scoring chances for his teammates.
Weah was especially lauded for his performances in Europe. He scored an astonishing 16 goals in just 25 European games. Weah was the top scorer in the 1994/95 Champions League, helping PSG to a run to the semi-finals. He was a part of the squad that made the semis of the 1992-93 UEFA Cup and 1993-94 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
In 1994, Weah was named the African Footballer of the Year for the second time in his career.
In his 3 year stint at the club, Weah managed 4 trophies including the Ligue 1, two Coupe de France titles and a Coupe de la Ligue, making him a PSG legend.
#4 Safet Susic
Safet Susic signed for PSG from SK Sarajevo in 1982 and became an instant European star. With 343 appearances for PSG, Susic is ranked third in the club’s all-time appearance list.
The Yugoslavian midfielder is especially known for his dribbling skills, technical ability and lethal crosses into the box.
In his 9 year stint at the club, Susic scored a commendable 96 goals and made a club record 61 assists. The potent midfielder ended his PSG career with 2 trophies to his name, the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
His former international teammate Darko Pancev said of Susic, “It’s well known how much I value and still do value Safet Susic. For me he’s unsurpassable, the best Yugoslavia ever had. Probably one of the best in the world. I was often known to say that us players should have to pay to play in the same team.”
In 2010, France Football voted Susic as Paris Saint-Germain’s best player in history.
#3 Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva signed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 for a fee of €42 million from Italian giants AC Milan, making him the second most expensive defender in the history of football. Regarded as one of the best defenders on the planet, the Brazilian has gone on to make over 150 appearances for the club.
Alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, his move represented the firepower PSG had gathered, symbolic of the Qatar Sports Investment’s revolution. An integral cog in the PSG machinery, Thiago Silva brought to the French league a new level of defending.
His class on the ball, technical ability, strength and aerial competence was something the league had not seen for a while. Along with these attributes, Thiago is renowned for his superb reading of the game. The Brazilian international brought defensive stability to a PSG side that lacked it.
Probably one of PSG’s best defenders of all time, Silva has won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles, three consecutive Coupe de La Ligue titles and two consecutive Coupe de France. When he finally decides to leave PSG, he will leave as their best defender of all time.
Alain Roche, ex-PSG defender in 2013 paid Thiago the ultimate compliment saying, "He is the Messi of defenders. The question is no longer if he is the best defender in the world, because he is quite simply one of the best players in the world — better than Cannavaro when he won the Ballon D'Or."
#2 Pauleta
The former Portguese international, Pauleta, joined Paris Saint-Germain from Bordeaux for a reported €12 million, ahead of the 2003/04 season on the back of a 30 goal season.
The Portuguese striker helped ‘The Parisiens’ win the French Cup during his first season at the club, scoring the only goal of the final. The forward, nicknamed “The Eagle of the Azores” a name given to him after his trademark celebration - spreading his arms like wings - scored 83 goals in 183 games in all competitions. He was PSG’s’ all-time leading goalscorer until Ibrahimovic broke his record in 2015.
During his 5 years at the club, Pauleta managed to win a total of three trophies, 1 Coupe de la Ligue and 2 Coupe De Frances as well as several individual accolades. Pauleta was idolized by the club’s fans and was voted the club’s best player ever by fans in 2010.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is, probably, one of the best strikers in the world and one of the best footballers of his generation.
The lanky Swede was signed from AC Milan in 2012 for a fee of £17.85 million which was considered by many as extravagant for a 31-year-old. Zlatan went on to show just how wrong everyone was. Like vintage wine, Zlatan just kept improving with age. In his 4 seasons at the club, Ibrahimovic scored an incredible 156 goals in 180 games in all competitions.
The Swedish captain picked up four consecutive Ligue 1 titles, two Coupe De France titles and three Coupe de la Ligues and became PSG’s record goalscorer, surpassing Pauleta thereby cementing his place in the French club’s history books. He was also voted France’s player of the year three times in 4 seasons.
Also famous for his off the field antics and interviews, Zlatan was quoted as saying just before exiting the club, “I came like a king, left like a legend."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was responsible for spearheading Paris Saint-Germain’s surge, turning them into one of the most feared teams in Europe. The Swede will forever be considered one of PSG’s greatest ever signings
